Media mogul Sumner Redstone has died.
Redstone passed away Tuesday afternoon, family confirmed to Variety. He was 97 years old at the time of his death.
BREAKING: Sumner Redstone, media mogul who built a media empire from his family’s movie chain that included CBS and Viacom, has died at age 97. https://t.co/tfidiJQQ3U
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 12, 2020
“My father led an extraordinary life that not only shaped entertainment as we know it today, but created an incredible family legacy,” his daughter Shari Redstone told Variety in a statement. “Through it all, we shared a great love for one another and he was a wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather. I am so proud to be his daughter and I will miss him always.”
Redstone took over his father’s private holdings company National Amusements which once controlled Paramount Pictures, Viacom and CBS Corp. In 2016, he was forced to step down from his role as chairman of both Viacom and CBS due to questions about his mental capacity, Variety reported. (RELATED: Hollywood Mogul Steve Bing’s Cause Of Death Revealed)
He continued to serve as ViacomCBS chairman emeritus and chairman-CEO of National Amusements until he died.
“Sumner was a man of unrivaled passion and perseverance, who devoted his life to his belief in the power of content,” National Amusements said in a statement to the outlet. “With his passing, the media industry he loved so dearly loses one of its great champions. Sumner, a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather, will be greatly missed by his family who take comfort knowing that his legacy will live on for generations to come.”